I have anxiety issues (fluttering in upper stomach, pain in arms and tingling in hands), but I am NOT depressed. After normal stress test and echo and heart monitor testing, my doctor gave me (about a year ago) a one-time prescription for lorazapam but told me it was addictive and to take it only as needed. Soooooooo ...... I try not to take them, but when I do, I only take one-half of the .5mg tablet. I still have most of them left, because I just try to fight my way through the symptoms.

Because I do not have depression, I really think other meds (Zoloft, which is what he wanted me to take) is not appropriate. If I only take the lorazapam as needed (like once every few days when it happens), is it still addictive?

Similar to yourself, I too have anxiety without Depression. I was also given Lorazapam and take it as needed, mostly to sleep though. BUT...I was also prescribed Lexapro, please keep in mind that some of these meds that are for depression are also prescribed to help with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. If you are just a "worrier" by nature, you could very well have GAD. I am on a VERY low does of Lexapro (10mg), and it helps with my daily nervousness. But I understand how you feel about the meds, I was very reluctant to take anything. But the meds in conjunction with talk therapy, has helped me a lot. I actually made a promise to myself, to give the meds a full year, and I would reevaluate my situation at that point. I am about a month away from that.

Don't torture yourself too much when it comes to meds. Your Dr. will help you through it. With the low does of Lorazapam that you are on, you should be fine. I wouldn't worry too much about becoming addicted to it. But do what you need to do to get better.

Similar to yourself, I too have anxiety without Depression. I was also given Lorazapam and take it as needed, mostly to sleep though. BUT...I was also prescribed Lexapro, please keep in mind that some of these meds that are for depression are also prescribed to help with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. If you are just a "worrier" by nature, you could very well have GAD. I am on a VERY low does of Lexapro (10mg), and it helps with my daily nervousness. But I understand how you feel about the meds, I was very reluctant to take anything. But the meds in conjunction with talk therapy, has helped me a lot. I actually made a promise to myself, to give the meds a full year, and I would reevaluate my situation at that point. I am about a month away from that.

Don't torture yourself too much when it comes to meds. Your Dr. will help you through it. With the low does of Lorazapam that you are on, you should be fine. I wouldn't worry too much about becoming addicted to it. But do what you need to do to get better.

A few years ago I did the same thing you're doing now. Dr.s wanted to put me on all kinds of daily meds, but i wouldn't take them because i wasn't depressed and didn't want to be on something all the time (and i was scared). I was given 10 lorazapam and would only take half a pill when i was having a panic attack. They were only there as a safety net and i usually only took them to keep myself out of the ER. I only ended up taking about 4 of the pills before they expired. I think they are only addictive if you are taking them on a very regular basis. Like every day. Do what you feel is right for you. If you can deal with it by just taking those every now and then, you're doing fine. If you feel like you are taking them too much, then I would talk to the doctor again. Good luck!

A few years ago I did the same thing you're doing now. Dr.s wanted to put me on all kinds of daily meds, but i wouldn't take them because i wasn't depressed and didn't want to be on something all the time (and i was scared). I was given 10 lorazapam and would only take half a pill when i was having a panic attack. They were only there as a safety net and i usually only took them to keep myself out of the ER. I only ended up taking about 4 of the pills before they expired. I think they are only addictive if you are taking them on a very regular basis. Like every day. Do what you feel is right for you. If you can deal with it by just taking those every now and then, you're doing fine. If you feel like you are taking them too much, then I would talk to the doctor again. Good luck!

well the thing with ant anxiety medications is that they are all antidepressants. they all work the same way. So while you are not depressed ( i wasn't at first either.) the medications you would take would be antidepressants. I got to a point where my panic attacks and anxiety took over my life and I wouldn't leave my house, thats is when i got depressed. So you can;t look at them for just treating depression cause they work for anxiety as well.

well the thing with ant anxiety medications is that they are all antidepressants. they all work the same way. So while you are not depressed ( i wasn't at first either.) the medications you would take would be antidepressants. I got to a point where my panic attacks and anxiety took over my life and I wouldn't leave my house, thats is when i got depressed. So you can;t look at them for just treating depression cause they work for anxiety as well.

Your anxiety sounds kind of like mine. Are you an everyday worrier? Totally over analyze everything? Does your stomach stay in a constant "knot" alot? Like bad butterflies in your stomach? That's my main symptom.. and it *****.

The thing with benzos like lorazapam , is that they are addictive. I have lorazapam too! And am JUST LIKE YOU it sounds like. I only take it when I REALLY need one... and I usually just take one before bed if I have too.. b/c it helps relax my nerves so I can fall asleep. But again, I have a bottle of 30 .5mg pills that have lasted me half a year... so you can see i dont take them often.

Another thing, I took Lexapro, a VERY VERY small dose (2.5mg)... and it has helped lots!!! I'm not on it at the moment... but am never scared to start back on it if I need it. I've been off Lexapro for 4 months now. But my anxiety kind of came back a couple of weeks ago. I lose appetite b/c of my nervous stomach.

The thing is, at first I didnt want to take an anti-depressant b/c wasn't depressed either. But, anti-depressants are effective with anxiety too! =)

Your brain is signaling "fake" flight or flight mechanisms.... which are needed in times of real worry/panic. But, you are feeling anxious for no reason... so these anti-depressants just help balance your brain chemistry... and take the edge off.

Don't be scared. Always trust your Dr.

And if you don't like it, discuss with your Dr. another option.

I'm sure you will be awesome soon! And anxiety for you will be a thing of the past. =)

Your anxiety sounds kind of like mine. Are you an everyday worrier? Totally over analyze everything? Does your stomach stay in a constant "knot" alot? Like bad butterflies in your stomach? That's my main symptom.. and it *****.

The thing with benzos like lorazapam , is that they are addictive. I have lorazapam too! And am JUST LIKE YOU it sounds like. I only take it when I REALLY need one... and I usually just take one before bed if I have too.. b/c it helps relax my nerves so I can fall asleep. But again, I have a bottle of 30 .5mg pills that have lasted me half a year... so you can see i dont take them often.

Another thing, I took Lexapro, a VERY VERY small dose (2.5mg)... and it has helped lots!!! I'm not on it at the moment... but am never scared to start back on it if I need it. I've been off Lexapro for 4 months now. But my anxiety kind of came back a couple of weeks ago. I lose appetite b/c of my nervous stomach.

The thing is, at first I didnt want to take an anti-depressant b/c wasn't depressed either. But, anti-depressants are effective with anxiety too! =)

Your brain is signaling "fake" flight or flight mechanisms.... which are needed in times of real worry/panic. But, you are feeling anxious for no reason... so these anti-depressants just help balance your brain chemistry... and take the edge off.

Don't be scared. Always trust your Dr.

And if you don't like it, discuss with your Dr. another option.

I'm sure you will be awesome soon! And anxiety for you will be a thing of the past. =)

i know i was scared to start medication too. I didn't want to be addicted and i also didn't want to have thoughts of suicide. But i couldn't suffer any longer.
Im sorta glad i took them cause who knows where I would be today if i hadn't/

i know i was scared to start medication too. I didn't want to be addicted and i also didn't want to have thoughts of suicide. But i couldn't suffer any longer.
Im sorta glad i took them cause who knows where I would be today if i hadn't/

(SSRI) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Paxal, Zoloft etc..
In the brain, messages are passed between two nerve cells via a synapse, a small gap between the cells. The presynaptic cell that sends the information releases neurotransmitters into that gap. The neurotransmitters are then recognized by receptors on the surface of the recipient (postsynaptic) cell, which upon this STIMULATION, in turn, relays the signal. About 10% of the neurotransmitters are lost in this process; the other 90% are released from the receptors and taken up again by monoamine transporters into the sending (presynaptic) cell (a process called reuptake).
Some theories link depression to a lack of stimulation of the recipient neuron at a synapse[citation needed]. To stimulate the recipient cell, SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. As a result, the serotonin stays in the synaptic gap longer than it normally would, and may be recognized again (and again) by the receptors of the recipient cell, stimulating it.

(SNRI) Serotonin-Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Effexor, Pristiq, Serezone, Cymbalta etc..
Activity on norepinephrine reuptake is thought necessary for an antidepressant to be effective on neuropathic pain, a property shared with the older tricyclic antidepressants but not with the SSRIs.[citation needed]

It has been theorized that depression corresponds with a reduction in communication and connectivity between neurons in the hippocampus. Neurons pass information to each other by means of neurotransmitters, which pass across the narrow synapses between the cells. After interacting with receptors on a postsynaptic neuron, most of the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by the presynaptic cell in a process called reuptake. Antidepressants increase the number of neurotransmitters active in the synapse, thereby enhancing neuronal activity downstream. Via an effect on NMDA receptors, this causes neuronal growth and synapse formation which have been shown in animal models to correlate with the relief of depression.[1] Modern antidepressants usually achieve this effect by blocking the transporter proteins that reabsorb certain neurotransmitters, hence the name "reuptake inhibitors". The result is that more of the neurotransmitter is left in the synaptic cleft, so it has a greater effect on the target neuron.
SNRIs were developed more recently than SSRIs, and there are relatively few of them. Their efficacy as well as their tolerability appear to be somewhat better than the SSRIs', apparently owing to their compound effect.

Bupropion
Wellbutrin, Zyban, Buspar
Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that affects chemicals within the brain that nerves use to send messages to each other. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. Many experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance among the amounts of neurotransmitters that are released. Nerves, in a process referred to as reuptake, may recycle released neurotransmitters. Bupropion works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine; an action that results in more dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to transmit messages to other nerves. Bupropion is unique and unlike other antidepressants in that its major effect is on dopamine, an effect that is not shared.

All three increase the how sensative your brain is to there inperticular function with the 3 main chemicals "seritonin, Norepinephrine, Dopamine"

Now, people with "pure " anxiety are overly sensative "this explains why most have symptoms that include, trembling, twitching muscles, and strange nerve feelings" because the nerves are fireing to much.
add a medicine that increases certain chemicals, and it can lead to even more over fireing.
This explains the initial "break in" period of all of these.
Then what happens is the SSRI, SNRI, or Bupropion eventually "burns out" the natural function of those cells and functions, creating a period of where the "user" thinks its actually working on there anxiety, but in reality, it is only making things worse for the road ahead.
When the drug eventually "burns out" the cell completely, It leaves the user feeling like they need to "updose" or switch meds "typicaly to a different meds with a different mechanism of action, to burn out the next cell"
When the outcome comes "and it always does" it leaves the user, with the well known discountinuation syndrome.

NOW, for benzos
Yes, it is true that you will have to taper them down, and possibly "99.9%" go through some sort of withdraw
With a proper taper the Gaba will repair itself, with minor withdraws during a proper taper
Benzos "atleast the long lasting" create a "anxiety free" enviroment, making recovery faster for the patient.
Because the number key to "releasing" the hell of Anxiety, is to feel like you have control, and have a "break" to regain your strength.
My theroy is, if the Docs would not shy away form, say Klonopin. Then there would be allot less people with the problem because it would "break" the cycle, before it gets worse.
If the Docs wouldve gave me Klonopin at first "say 15 day supply" I probably wouldve never even found this website, because it wouldve broke the cycle, and improved recovery time.
But instead, the Docs "probably paid off by the A.D pharms" decided to put me on much more dangerous A.Ds that in return caused more harm, and prolonged my suffering.

"Pure" Anxiety comes from over "action" of the brain cells and its fireing.
GABA is the responsible mechinism to "calm" you down during high stress. "your CNS"

Look at it like this.

Read the post on this site, read everyones "symptoms" and write it down on a list.
Now go to a website that dedicates itself to "benzo" withdraw, Write down a list of there symptoms.
Now compare the 2.
You will notice a SCARY simularity to the both, linking the 2 to abnormal GABA action, not Seritonin, Norepinephrine, or Dopamine imbalances.
This explains why people with "pure" anxiety when taking a dose of say 1 mg Klonopin, will not feel sleepy, "buzzed" etc..
Because they have a imbalance in the receptors the regualte healthy function of the GABA, etc..
Now give a person with Healthy a Healthy Function of GABA etc.. 1mgs Klonopin and watch what happens.
They either get real sleepy, or overly "relaxed"

Fact is, A.Ds dont really work, "especially for anxiety" it just "tricks" a person to believe they are working, and when you compare SSRI withdraw, and Benzo withdraw, "with little differences" they are both hell. So if your going to go through hell, you might as well pick one that actually TAKES AWAY ANXIETY.
A.Ds are all the craze for these Doctors, its the magic "cure" all pill, from Depression, to Anxiety, to premiture ejaculation, to muscle cramps.
but truth is, none of these pill CURE YOU, they only mask symptoms, and some make the situation worse then what it was in the first place without the meds.
I dont even like calling them meds, Medicine is supposed to CURE you.
So, they can send a man on the moon, but yet they cant find a CURE for anxiety and depression? and make it non addicting?
the Pharm. Copmpanys like having these little bastards of a pill to have discountinuation syndrome, and withdraw.............it makes sure there PRODUCT IS ALWAYS USED.
Anyways Im done ranting and raving, look at the facts, and YOU can make a decision.
Please never let a Antidepressant pill pusher of a doctor "trick" you into believing your depressed, or that its a magic "pill" that will take away all the monsters in the dark.
It is good to feel SOME anxiety and depression, it is a normal function of the human brain, and is there for good reason, to either tell you to get your butt going, or to let you mourn for a loved ones death.

(SSRI) Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Paxal, Zoloft etc..
In the brain, messages are passed between two nerve cells via a synapse, a small gap between the cells. The presynaptic cell that sends the information releases neurotransmitters into that gap. The neurotransmitters are then recognized by receptors on the surface of the recipient (postsynaptic) cell, which upon this STIMULATION, in turn, relays the signal. About 10% of the neurotransmitters are lost in this process; the other 90% are released from the receptors and taken up again by monoamine transporters into the sending (presynaptic) cell (a process called reuptake).
Some theories link depression to a lack of stimulation of the recipient neuron at a synapse[citation needed]. To stimulate the recipient cell, SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin. As a result, the serotonin stays in the synaptic gap longer than it normally would, and may be recognized again (and again) by the receptors of the recipient cell, stimulating it.

(SNRI) Serotonin-Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Effexor, Pristiq, Serezone, Cymbalta etc..
Activity on norepinephrine reuptake is thought necessary for an antidepressant to be effective on neuropathic pain, a property shared with the older tricyclic antidepressants but not with the SSRIs.[citation needed]

It has been theorized that depression corresponds with a reduction in communication and connectivity between neurons in the hippocampus. Neurons pass information to each other by means of neurotransmitters, which pass across the narrow synapses between the cells. After interacting with receptors on a postsynaptic neuron, most of the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by the presynaptic cell in a process called reuptake. Antidepressants increase the number of neurotransmitters active in the synapse, thereby enhancing neuronal activity downstream. Via an effect on NMDA receptors, this causes neuronal growth and synapse formation which have been shown in animal models to correlate with the relief of depression.[1] Modern antidepressants usually achieve this effect by blocking the transporter proteins that reabsorb certain neurotransmitters, hence the name "reuptake inhibitors". The result is that more of the neurotransmitter is left in the synaptic cleft, so it has a greater effect on the target neuron.
SNRIs were developed more recently than SSRIs, and there are relatively few of them. Their efficacy as well as their tolerability appear to be somewhat better than the SSRIs', apparently owing to their compound effect.

Bupropion
Wellbutrin, Zyban, Buspar
Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that affects chemicals within the brain that nerves use to send messages to each other. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. Many experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance among the amounts of neurotransmitters that are released. Nerves, in a process referred to as reuptake, may recycle released neurotransmitters. Bupropion works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine; an action that results in more dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to transmit messages to other nerves. Bupropion is unique and unlike other antidepressants in that its major effect is on dopamine, an effect that is not shared.

All three increase the how sensative your brain is to there inperticular function with the 3 main chemicals "seritonin, Norepinephrine, Dopamine"

Now, people with "pure " anxiety are overly sensative "this explains why most have symptoms that include, trembling, twitching muscles, and strange nerve feelings" because the nerves are fireing to much.
add a medicine that increases certain chemicals, and it can lead to even more over fireing.
This explains the initial "break in" period of all of these.
Then what happens is the SSRI, SNRI, or Bupropion eventually "burns out" the natural function of those cells and functions, creating a period of where the "user" thinks its actually working on there anxiety, but in reality, it is only making things worse for the road ahead.
When the drug eventually "burns out" the cell completely, It leaves the user feeling like they need to "updose" or switch meds "typicaly to a different meds with a different mechanism of action, to burn out the next cell"
When the outcome comes "and it always does" it leaves the user, with the well known discountinuation syndrome.

NOW, for benzos
Yes, it is true that you will have to taper them down, and possibly "99.9%" go through some sort of withdraw
With a proper taper the Gaba will repair itself, with minor withdraws during a proper taper
Benzos "atleast the long lasting" create a "anxiety free" enviroment, making recovery faster for the patient.
Because the number key to "releasing" the hell of Anxiety, is to feel like you have control, and have a "break" to regain your strength.
My theroy is, if the Docs would not shy away form, say Klonopin. Then there would be allot less people with the problem because it would "break" the cycle, before it gets worse.
If the Docs wouldve gave me Klonopin at first "say 15 day supply" I probably wouldve never even found this website, because it wouldve broke the cycle, and improved recovery time.
But instead, the Docs "probably paid off by the A.D pharms" decided to put me on much more dangerous A.Ds that in return caused more harm, and prolonged my suffering.

"Pure" Anxiety comes from over "action" of the brain cells and its fireing.
GABA is the responsible mechinism to "calm" you down during high stress. "your CNS"

Look at it like this.

Read the post on this site, read everyones "symptoms" and write it down on a list.
Now go to a website that dedicates itself to "benzo" withdraw, Write down a list of there symptoms.
Now compare the 2.
You will notice a SCARY simularity to the both, linking the 2 to abnormal GABA action, not Seritonin, Norepinephrine, or Dopamine imbalances.
This explains why people with "pure" anxiety when taking a dose of say 1 mg Klonopin, will not feel sleepy, "buzzed" etc..
Because they have a imbalance in the receptors the regualte healthy function of the GABA, etc..
Now give a person with Healthy a Healthy Function of GABA etc.. 1mgs Klonopin and watch what happens.
They either get real sleepy, or overly "relaxed"

Fact is, A.Ds dont really work, "especially for anxiety" it just "tricks" a person to believe they are working, and when you compare SSRI withdraw, and Benzo withdraw, "with little differences" they are both hell. So if your going to go through hell, you might as well pick one that actually TAKES AWAY ANXIETY.
A.Ds are all the craze for these Doctors, its the magic "cure" all pill, from Depression, to Anxiety, to premiture ejaculation, to muscle cramps.
but truth is, none of these pill CURE YOU, they only mask symptoms, and some make the situation worse then what it was in the first place without the meds.
I dont even like calling them meds, Medicine is supposed to CURE you.
So, they can send a man on the moon, but yet they cant find a CURE for anxiety and depression? and make it non addicting?
the Pharm. Copmpanys like having these little bastards of a pill to have discountinuation syndrome, and withdraw.............it makes sure there PRODUCT IS ALWAYS USED.
Anyways Im done ranting and raving, look at the facts, and YOU can make a decision.
Please never let a Antidepressant pill pusher of a doctor "trick" you into believing your depressed, or that its a magic "pill" that will take away all the monsters in the dark.
It is good to feel SOME anxiety and depression, it is a normal function of the human brain, and is there for good reason, to either tell you to get your butt going, or to let you mourn for a loved ones death.

Thank you so much for your comments and advice. It is comforting to know that I can reach out to others who actually understand what is happening. I will certainly take the advice to heart and discuss with my Dr. on my next appointment.

Thank you so much for your comments and advice. It is comforting to know that I can reach out to others who actually understand what is happening. I will certainly take the advice to heart and discuss with my Dr. on my next appointment.

I have anxiety issues (fluttering in upper stomach, pain in arms and tingling in hands), but I am NOT depressed. After normal stress test and echo and heart monitor testing, my doctor gave me (about a year ago) a one-time prescription for lorazapam but told me it was addictive and to take it only as needed. Soooooooo ...... I try not to take them, but when I do, I only take one-half of the .5mg tablet. I still have most of them left, because I just try to fight my way through the symptoms.

Because I do not have depression, I really think other meds (Zoloft, which is what he wanted me to take) is not appropriate. If I only take the lorazapam as needed (like once every few days when it happens), is it still addictive?

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